Tire regrooving tool and related methods

Abstract

This device, designed for cutting the grooves of pneumatic tire treads, includes a re-grooving tool having two distal cutting points that creates grooves in the tire treads having two subgrooves. The grooves improve the fuel efficiency of vehicle and the subgrooves improve channeling and clearance of rain, snow, mud, and other hazardous materials on the road.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A tire regrooving device for cutting grooves in the tread of a tire, comprising:
 a. a main body having a gripping handle at its near end and a cutting tool assembly at its distal end, said assembly comprising
 i. a cutting blade, said cutting blade having
 1. two distal cutting points and being operable to cut grooves having two subgrooves in the surface of said tire, 
 2. two lateral branches, each ending at one of said two distal cutting points, and 
 3. two medial branches that extend obliquely back toward the main body and attach at a central apex point and 
 
 ii. a blade holder to which said cutting blade is attached. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide element operable to set a predetermined cutting depth for said cutting blade. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said two distal cutting points and said central apex point create a protrusion within said grooves having a substantially triangular cross-section. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein said two subgrooves have substantially triangular cross-sections. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting blade is attached to said holder by the insertion of the upper portions of said lateral branches into said blade holder. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 2 , wherein said upper portions of said cutting blade branches are inserted into channels of the blade holder and are secured therein by a fastening device. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises cutting blade heating mechanism. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a hand-grip attached to the distal region of its main body. 
     
     
       9. A method for cutting grooves in the tread of a tire, the method comprising:
 a. inserting a cutter blade into the tread of a tire, the cutter blade being mounted in cutting tool assembly said cutter blade having
 i. two distal cutting points, 
 ii. two lateral branches, each ending at one of said two distal cutting points and 
 iii. two medial branches that extend obliquely back toward the cutting tool assembly and attach at a central apex point; and 
 
 b. passing the cutter blade in a circumferential direction along the tire surface, carving out the tread material enclosed by the cutting blade and the guide element to create a groove having two subgrooves in the tire surface. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said two distal cutting points and said central apex point create a protrusion within said grooves having a substantially triangular cross-section. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said two subgrooves have substantially triangular cross-sections. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising a guide element to set a predetermined cutting depth for said cutting blade. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tire has partially worn grooves, the cutting blade is inserted into a partially worn groove, and the cutting blade follows the groove pattern to cut the partially worn groove to a new depth.